2025 Washington Commanders season
The 2025 season was the Washington Commanders' 94th in the National Football League and their second under the tandem of general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. The Commanders failed to improve upon their record from the previous season, and failed to match that record with their sixth loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9. The season also saw the team start over 13 games, their worst such start since 2019 when they were known as the Redskins. The season was plagued by injuries to several key players, including quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, as well as consistently poor defensive performances. They were the first NFL team since the 2002 Arizona Cardinals to lose four consecutive games by 21 or more points. Following their shutout loss to the [2025 2025 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings] in Week 14, the Commanders were eliminated from playoff contention.
Overview
The front office saw the addition of former Campbell's CEO Mark Clouse as team president and the retirements of senior personnel executive Martin Mayhew and advisor Marty Hurney. The coaching staff saw Brian Schneider replace John Glenn, who left to become the linebackers coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, as assistant special teams coordinator.In the offseason, the Commanders traded draft picks for Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Notable free agents signed include defensive ends Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jacob Martin, outside linebacker Von Miller, defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw and Eddie Goldman, cornerback Jonathan Jones, safety Will Harris, and kicker Matt Gay. In July, the Commanders revealed "Super Bowl Era" alternate uniforms resembling those of the franchise's former Super Bowl-winning teams. The Commanders had five players listed in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025, which was revealed during the lead up to the season. Included were Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, and Laremy Tunsil.
Draft
Schedule
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New York Giants
For the season opener against the New York Giants, Jayden Daniels, Jeremy Reaves, and Bobby Wagner served as game captains. The win marked the first time the Commanders won three straight over the Giants since 1999–2000. Former wide receiver Santana Moss was inducted into the Commanders Ring of Fame at halftime.Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
Nick Bellore, Zach Ertz, and Frankie Luvu served as game captains. The Commanders were down 14–3 at halftime, and 17–3 at the end of the third quarter, but managed to outscore the Packers 15–10 in the 4th quarter. However, this was not enough to seal the win, as the Packers took a knee to run out the clock. Austin Ekeler would be lost for the season with an Achilles injury.Week 3: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Percy Butler, Daron Payne, and Laremy Tunsil served as game captains. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane tied a Commanders' record when he returned a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown.Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons
Marcus Mariota, Quan Martin, and Tress Way served as game captains. The Commanders had an extremely disappointing game against the Michael Penix Jr.–led Atlanta Falcons, as they were upset with a loss of 34–27. With their first loss to Atlanta since 2018, the Commanders fell to 2–2.Week 5: at Los Angeles Chargers
Javon Kinlaw, Jeremy McNichols, and Deebo Samuel served as game captains.After allowing the Chargers to score the first 10 points, the Commanders shut them out for the remainder of the game and scored 27 unanswered points en route to a 27–10 victory. With the win, the Commanders improved to 3–2 and recorded their first road victory against the Chargers since the 1986 season, when the team was known as the San Diego Chargers.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards within his first 20 career games.
Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears
In a rematch of last season’s thrilling game, which ended with a walk-off Hail Mary by Washington, it was the Bears who delivered the final blow this time, upsetting Washington 25–24. The Bears controlled much of the first half, but the game tightened in the third quarter as both teams traded scores to change the lead. With just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Washington held a 24–22 lead until a botched handoff between quarterback Daniels and Jeremy McNichols resulted in a fumble and turnover. The Bears capitalized on the mistake, and kicker Jake Moody sealed the win with a walk-off field goal on the ensuing drive. With the loss, Washington fell to 3–3.Dorance Armstrong, John Bates, and Mike Sainristil served as game captains.
Week 7: at Dallas Cowboys
Chris Paul, Tyler Owens, and Von Miller served as game captains. The Commanders had an extremely disappointing game against the Dak Prescott–led Dallas Cowboys, as they were upset with a blowout loss of 44–22. With the loss, the Commanders fell to 3–4.Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs
Javon Kinlaw, Jacob Martin, and Luke McCaffrey served as game captains. With their ninth straight loss to Kansas City since 1983, the Commanders fell to 3–5.Week 9: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Percy Butler, Zach Ertz, and Marshon Lattimore served as game captains.During the fourth quarter of the game, Jayden Daniels sustained a dislocated left elbow, an injury that was later announced would sideline him for the next three games.
Week 10: vs. Detroit Lions
Daron Payne, Jeremy Reaves, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. served as game captains.Donald Trump was in attendance for this game, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NFL game since Jimmy Carter in October 1978, leading to extra security measures enacted and Air Force One flying over the stadium in the first quarter. Trump also spoke from the broadcast booth with Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma during the third quarter, including providing reactionary commentary on Deebo Samuel’s touchdown.
With the blowout loss, Washington fell to 3–7 for the first time since 2020.
Week 11: at Miami Dolphins
The Commanders and the Dolphins played in Madrid in the first NFL regular-season game held in Spain as part of the NFL International Series.On the first play of overtime, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota threw an interception to Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones, which set up a game-winning 29-yard field goal by Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson.
The Commanders had an extremely disappointing game against the Tua Tagovailoa-led Dolphins, as they were upset with an overtime loss of 16–13. With their second loss to Miami since 2023, the Commanders fell to 3–8 and extended their losing streak to six games.
Following the game, the Commanders released kicker Matt Gay, who missed two of his four field-goal attempts, including one with 15 seconds remaining in regulation that would have won the game for Washington.
Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos
In overtime, after Marcus Mariota led the Commanders to a touchdown, the team opted to attempt a two-point conversion for the win. However, Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto batted away Mariota’s pass, allowing the Broncos to hold on for the victory. With their seventh straight loss, the Commanders fell to 3–9 and finished 2–2 against the AFC West and 2–3 against the AFC.Week 14: at Minnesota Vikings
Midway through the third quarter, Jayden Daniels was forced out of the game after he was blocked during an interception return and landed hard on the left elbow he dislocated last month requiring a three-game absence. Additionally, Zach Ertz suffered a torn ACL in his right knee.Washington suffered its first shutout loss since a 9–0 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers during the 2019 season and was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. The Commanders were additionally swept by the NFC North.
Week 15: at New York Giants
Noah Brown, Jaylin Lane, and Jordan Magee served as game captains. With the win over the Giants, the Commanders improved to 4–10 and snapped their eight-game losing streak, sweeping the Giants for the second season in a row.The following day, the Commanders announced that they would shut down Jayden Daniels for the remainder of the season and start backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in his place.
Week 16: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Despite holding a 10–7 lead at halftime, the Commanders allowed 22 points in the second half, including touchdowns to tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley. In the third quarter, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota left the game due to injury and was replaced by third-stringer Josh Johnson. With their ninth loss in their last ten games, the Commanders fell to 4–11 and 2–2 against the NFC East.During the fourth quarter, a brawl broke out involving two Commanders defenders, defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw and safety Quan Martin, and one Eagles player, offensive lineman Tyler Steen. All three were disqualified after being flagged for unnecessary roughness during the altercation.
Week 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys
For the Christmas Day game against the Cowboys, Frankie Luvu, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Tress Way served as game captains.With the loss, the Commanders dropped to 4–12, went winless when wearing the Super Bowl Era alternate uniform, and were swept by the Cowboys for the third time in five years. They finished 2–6 at home.